Consider them Santa’s elves and angels among us; dozens of Meals on Wheels volunteers converged this month at Lynnwood-based Homage, the largest provider of services for older adults and people with disabilities in Snohomish County, to ensure one thousand local seniors have a week’s worth of shelf-stable food packages in their pantries. Each week, nutritious…
There’s an unfortunate trend continuing in Washington and across the nation that must be stopped: the bad behavior of coaches, parents and fans at high school and middle school athletic events. We’ve all seen it: the yelling, harassing, berating, disrespecting and even physically assaulting referees, umpires and other officials during and after games. And oftentimes,…
Growing up, I always enjoyed watching superheroes like Superman defeat the bad guys. Lex Luthor’s evil plan would be foiled once again, and the world would be saved. However, in the real world, superheroes don’t always wear capes when they save lives. Doctors are our superheroes, and we must protect them as they protect us….
It’s the season when we often take time to reflect on things we are grateful for, and rising to the top of my list is the exceptional community of people at Edmonds College, where I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of serving as chair of the Board of Trustees, since July. It’s been an incredibly…
For the last six years I have dedicated my time to serving on the City of Lynnwood’s boards and commissions in attempts to build a safe, welcoming and vibrant city. During this time, I have come to understand and appreciate the city’s protocol of outreach for projects, such as sending out emails, creating surveys and…
Forty-six years ago, upon the fall of Saigon, thousands of Southeast Asian refugees fled violence and persecution in their home countries. Like the governors of other states at the time, Dan Evans could have ignored their plight. The Vietnam War had divided the country and left wounds that would take decades to heal. Many Americans…
This opinion piece was updated to correct the amount of American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the City of Lynnwood. Along with the rest of America, Lynnwood residents are becoming increasingly aware of racial injustice and violence towards people of color. We value human life and justice. We believe that, as our constitution says,…
Your city council and mayor were elected to represent your interests in the efficient operation of the city. They work for you. They represent the entire city and respond to the will of the people. Contact and communication with them is vital for any representative form of government to function appropriately. All municipalities maintain websites…
Right now, Congress is debating an historic, FDR-like investment in the nation’s infrastructure to create U.S. jobs, drive economic recovery and turn the corner on having a cleaner and greener transportation system. As chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I recognize that aviation and aerospace mean well-paying jobs in the Pacific Northwest and across the…
Voters in the Edmonds School District will soon receive a ballot in your mailbox, and I am asking you to join me in voting yes in support of the school capital levy. The levy will provide much-needed funding for safety upgrades, maintenance and operation of our schools, and building additional capacity to meet present and…
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I have been deeply saddened by the recent attacks on members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, and as I watch the trial of the officer charged with George Floyd’s death, it is clear there is much work to be done. There is a long-standing history in the U.S. of violence and…
We are facing hard times as a local and global community, and as a college it is important, now more than ever, to continue to innovate and provide exceptional value to our students, stakeholders, and community. At Edmonds College, this is part of our mission and a top priority. We’re building for the future by…
I think about suicide when I see someone crying in the park. I think about suicide when a teen tells me they are anxious because they are under too much pressure to perform and make their parents happy. I think about suicide when a father tells me he is worth more to his family dead…
Dear Edmonds School District students, families, staff and community members, While I hoped to introduce myself to the community in person when I started my role as the Edmonds School District superintendent on July 1, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed my plans, as it has changed the plans for each of us, especially our students….
Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Created by the National Recreation and Park Association, Park and Recreation Month specifically highlights the vital and powerful role local park and recreation professionals, such as our staff at Snohomish County Parks, Recreation & Tourism play in conservation, health and well-being,…
Washington’s 281 cities and towns currently face unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. But some federal leaders have put our plight on the back burner. That needs to change—and quickly—if we are to support our economic recovery. Federal policymakers must invest in cities to maintain essential services and help spur an economic rebound. Sixty-five percent of…
In mid-March, Governor Inslee closed all public and private K–12 schools in our state through April 24. Today (April 6), he extended that directive and ordered all school buildings to close throughout the remainder of the 2019–20 school year. We have more than 1.2 million students in our state who are impacted by this. Over…
The following was written by Megan Wolfe, executive director of Snohomish County Girls on the Run, a 10-week empowerment and fitness program for girls in third through sixth grades. It was canceled this spring due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I’ve been trying to process my grief over our canceled season for the past week and a…
I know a lot of people in our society are panicking right now, but I am surprised by my parents’ and my grandmother’s completely calm response to the #coronavirus outbreak. My parents are in their 70s with underlying health conditions that qualify them as “at risk” for complications from an infection. My grandmother is in…
Since May 10, 2018, a federal “No Discharge Zone” (NDZ) has made it illegal to discharge both treated and untreated sewage from boats and vessels into Puget Sound. Vessel sewage can contain bacteria and viruses that are harmful to people and the environment. These contaminants are harmful to water quality, beaches and shellfish beds. Eating…
Washington State is kicking off a big change for the better. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Engrossed House Bill 1074 – or Tobacco and Vapor 21 – makes it illegal to sell tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21. Including Washington State, Tobacco and Vapor 21 is currently the law – or will be…
Edmonds School District is considering moving 6th grade to middle school. I am in favor of this change. This would not happen for several years. Currently, we don’t have the facilities for it and it’s a huge change for all of us that requires proper planning. However, we must decide on it well in advance,…
On Tuesday May 14, a vote was taken by the Edmonds School Board to approve a reduction in force and notify (as required by law and to honor our collective bargaining agreement) 25.2 certificated staff of the possibility their positions may be eliminated in the 19-20 school year. It was an excruciating decision because every…
As a single mother, a veteran and a renter who uses a voucher to help pay my rent, I am no stranger to what it’s like to face discrimination in the rental market. Despite my squeaky-clean rental history and decent credit, I’ve been denied apartment after apartment, just because I pay a portion of my…
During the 1970s and ’80s I was an active pilot, often flying in and out of Paine Field, Everett. During that time there was an effort by Snohomish County to enlarge the facilities and incorporate commercial aviation at the field. As you can imagine, there were many homeowners and local businesses who were concerned about…
